It also does not magically make an external monitor work if the computer doesn’t recognize it when it’s plugged in. The app does not fix or enable mirroring on a hacked computer where a secondary display only works in one mode or the other. There is no user interface and only makes the change in settings if an external monitor is attached. When you run it, it will bounce in the dock once or twice and change the display mirroring settings. You can put it in your dock for an easy-access switch, or activate it with Quicksilver, Quick Search Box, Alfred, or Spotlight. It’s the easiest way to turn on, or turn off display mirroring. MirrorDisplays a simple application that toggles between mirrored and extended desktop modes. And there’s still no easy way to change the mirroring settings from the command line, or any way at all if you can’t see what’s on the screen.

That has been replaced with the under-documented Command-F1 in newer Apple laptops, but leaves Desktop machines and hacked laptops in the cold. It’s a dance seen all too often before presentations when PowerPoint or Keynote are showing the presentation on the laptop screen instead of the projector.Īpple used to have the courtesy to give laptops a dedicated key to toggle display mirroring. Open System Preferences, go to the display pane, go to the Arrangement tab, and toggle the Mirror Displays checkbox. It takes too many steps in Mac OS X to switch between mirrored and extended desktop mode on external displays.

How to change screen mirroring on mac